I’m still able to do most of the things I need to but I can’t carry much or get too far while on crutches. I’ve been to the outdoor gym every single day and hobble my way to coffee at a cafe afterward. After four surgeries in the past and lots of injuries throughout my life, I’ve always been on to have an enormous amount of gratitude for being able to do any sort of activity. One minute you have the capability and you never know what can happen.

Luckily, I only have two weeks post-surgery on the crutches if all goes well, and will be back to walking from basically the first days of 2022. Other than the injury, I’ve been working a bit on the blog and have transitioned to a new, faster theme called Trellis. However, you probably can’t notice because aesthetically it still looks the same.

I also launched my Patreon Page, which serves a double purpose. Firstly, it is a place for readers to support me after enjoying my free travel guides with a small monthly payment. Secondly, it’s a place where I can offer my services through mentorship and also offer different tiers of benefits such as sending out handwritten postcards, presets, and direct access to me through messaging for advice on blogging and travel tips. You can check out the full Patreon Page by clicking here to see the different tiers and membership benefits.

I hope you all had a good Christmas and finish off the year strong.

The surgery adds two pins to each side of my ankle with a cord that wraps around the joint holding the ligaments in place. They will also clean up the site of the small fracture where the bone is chipped so it heals properly. I’ll be in a boot and crutches for two weeks post-surgery and can jog after four weeks if all goes well. I think 6-8 weeks is a fair timeline to be back hiking.

It is what it is. I’ll use this time to let other parts of my body recover and to strengthen my upper body, handgrip, and core while doing exercises that don’t use my legs or mobilize the ankle. I’ll also jump on the computer when I find motivation and tidy up lots of admin and updates on the blog as I anticipate the travel traffic to increase throughout 2022 assuming the recovery does actually occur. The blog is pretty self-sufficient and when the search traffic increases so do my page views and income but there are a number of areas I can pay attention to, which will make 2022 as successful as possible. It won’t be exciting or glamorous but I’ll have plenty of downtime during this period to make sure everything is running smoothly.

As I mentioned in the last ‘Weekly’, there won’t be too many travel photos during this time. I write these short journals predominantly for myself to keep a record of my travels, and periods of my life. It’s getting close to six years now so it’s something I make sure to carry on.

I flew into Sydney from Nepal and had no restrictions placed on me. I then waited seven days out in NSW and could then enter South Australia with no quarantine there either. A pretty good result compared to a $3,000, two-week hotel stay months earlier. Unfortunately, I had my hiking accident during my time in NSW but other than that the plan went perfectly. I managed to keep it a secret from my family and arrived home a few weeks before Christmas to surprise them.

Despite my injury and need to get scans and treatments sorted in my first few days back in Adelaide, it was just good to be back home. It’s been a pretty full-on year with four out of the last five months spent living in a tent. It’s manageable but starts to wear you down bit by bit over time. A forced rest back home will rejuvenate me for 2022 on the road again. Sometimes you don’t know how much you need a break from it all until you have no choice but to take a break from it all. Rest and recovery are often neglected but never to be underestimated.

I think this next month will lack photos as I take a break from the camera and documenting adventures but that’s okay. My days will be filled with coffee, chats, and outdoor gym workouts to keep in shape while in the moon boot. It’s a phase, I’ll manage it and come out the other end stronger.

I went to Kangaroo Island for a getaway but also to shoot some running-inspired pictures for my friends’ upcoming workshop being held on the island. That’s why you’ll see a few running-focused pictures below. I hope you enjoy these Kangaroo Island photos as much as I enjoyed the trip!

It’s been a sunny week here in Adelaide, which has left some of us scratching our heads and wondering if winter has finished or if it ever came it all. Was that it? Is that all you got Adelaide? It’s been chilly at times but the amount of sunshine I’ve consumed and golden rides I’ve been on during winter is surely down to luck. I guess we deserve a bit of luck this year.

I made my way to the gym twice this week for some maintenance, rode 140 kilometers on the bike, and put in 40kms of trail running. It was my steepest week of running ever I believe with 1100m of the incline in the bank. Maybe that is the highlight. For me, the highlight was just enjoying a few different trails throughout the week and I feel like, during this extended stay in Adelaide, I’ve really sought out some different locations in Adelaide and have made the most of my home town. It’s a beautiful home town.

Below are some of my favorite moments from the trails this week and a little video I’ve made while trying to upskill myself on the GoPro Max 360 in preparation for some epic trail running overseas later this year hopefully. I finished up a blog post this week that collated all of the beautiful trails I’ve been running in South Australia. If you are keen to check it out, it’s a handy 5,000-word collection highlighting some of the top trails I’ve run near Adelaide. You can check that out here: 20 AWESOME TRAIL RUNS NEAR ADELAIDE

However, when you find someone reliable, who you believe in they’re easy to invest energy into, you can get emotionally involved without being disappointed when their interest or motivation drops off down the track. It’s called reliability and in the world of freelancing and entrepreneurship, it’s not a regular trait.

When Josh said he wanted to run a Kangaroo Island workshop focused on running and personal development, we had a quick chat about it and by the end of the conversation, I knew he was going to make it happen. I didn’t need all the details or for it to be locked in. I could just see he was 100% committed to the idea. So, when he asked me to come over on a week-long trip to adventure and shoot photos and video creating promotional content for his workshop… I packed my bags and off we went.

As a squad of four, we set off for Kangaroo Island on a Monday and after some slight ferry delays, we arrived at the island late at night, grabbed a pub meal then checked in to our cottage-style accommodation. The next four days would be a whirlwind of adventure.

More and more, I am enjoying a challenge and a focus when it comes to photography. Having pressed the shutter hundreds of thousands of times over the last 6 years, having a bit of purpose with each click is reinvigorating. A personal challenge I set myself for this week was to create some of the most epic running photos Kangaroo Island has ever seen. This would give Josh some great material to promote his upcoming workshop and for me, it would emulate working on an official project with certain requirements and a level of quality to achieve. Something to strive for.

It had been a while since I’ve shot too much, having opted to give the camera a rest for the majority of the four months I’ve been in lockdown in Australia. Things quickly came back to me as did the adrenaline of capturing scenes during golden light and framing shots. It was all the fun stuff with a great group of guys.

We were lucky to have three great sunrises and some beautiful sunny weather throughout the trip, which made things very easy from a photography point of view. We also threw in a couple of hikes and a number of trail runs to keep the blood flowing throughout the week. I’m going to share my favorite photos from my week on Kangaroo Island shooting landscapes but also the running focused images, which will be used to promote the Kangaroo Island Session.

20 AWESOME TRAIL RUN NEAR ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

n this blog post, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite trail runs that I’ve personally enjoyed while based here in my hometown of Adelaide, South Australia. I’m no pro runner by any means but enjoy a good trail with some incline so the undulation in the Adelaide Hills and surrounds is a great training ground. Normally I love to take a photo at golden hour on my camera but most of the photos in this blog post are taken on my phone during a run (often while on the move) so don’t expect epic landscape shots but you will get a sense for what each trail offers.

CHAMBERS GULLY LOOP

Distance: 10km
Incline: 344m
Strava Upload: Chambers Gully Loop Map

Chambers Gully is one of my personal favorite trail runs near Adelaide City Center. It’s really close to the city and just minutes from the suburb of Burnside. To get there you head up Waterfall Gully Road to the most popular hike in Adelaide “Waterfall Gully to Lofty’. Two kilometers before you reach the parking lot for Waterfall Gully, you will see the Chambers Gully sign on the right-hand side of the road. There is limited parking at the entrance to the trail but on weekends you will have to search up and down the road for a parking spot.

The trail is a 10km loop and can be run in either direction. However, if run clockwise from the parking lot it is a much steadier run with 7km of incline to the summit/viewpoint rather than 3km. I’d advise this direction for maximum enjoyment.

The trail begins on a paved section of road but only for a short while before the track turns into a dirt trail that follows a small creek up through the gully. Keep your eyes open for Koalas, I spotted a couple in the early moments of the trail.

After a few kilometers, there is a steep section before the trail begins to wind up the side of the gully to lead you to the top of the ridge. Once upon the ridge, the trail opens up onto a gravel service road and shoots you straight along the ridge toward the city of Adelaide, which slowly becomes visible in the distance. This upper region of the trail on the ridge is the Kangaroo hangout zone so keep your eyes peeled for some Kangaroos lazing under the trees. I ran into a mob of about 15 roos here. At the viewpoint, there’s a bench with a stunning view of the entire city of Adelaide similar to the nearby Mount Lofty view but without the infrastructure and with fewer hikers.

The trail then winds you down the hill on a single track with some slight exposure. Take care during this descent rain as the muddy single-track can be slippery and there is a drop-off but with moderate care, there is little to fear. The descent is a great section to release the legs and drop some quick kilometers. Post-run coffee is no doubt at Base Camp Cafe, which is just near the start of Waterfall Gully Road.

FIFTY SHADES OF CLAY TRAIL

Distance: 10.2km
Incline: 208m
Strava Upload: Fifty Shades of Clay

The trail name is real before you question it. The ‘Fifty Shades of Clay’ trail is a handy track near O’Hallaran Hill, which makes it very accessible to those in the southern suburbs. While there are a number of variations to the route including crossing underneath the Southern Expressway to increase the distance of the route.

This track is a popular mountain bike area so keep an eye out for bikes while enjoying the tracks. The route I did was a 10km loop with just over 200m of incline along the very muddy trail. If it’s been raining, you may want to give this trail run a miss because it just becomes so slippery it’s hard to get any grip on the track. Even on the day, I ran there was only light rain, but as you can see we ended up covered in clay spray.

This is a great trail run to choose if you don’t want to drive for a long way up unto the hills but still want a bit of an off-the-beaten-track adventure. Post-run coffee was at the Alimentary Eatery in Brighton, which is nearby.

KUITPO FOREST – TINJELLA TRAIL

Distance: 10.5 km
Incline: 214m
Strava Upload: Tinjella Trail in Kuitpo Forest

Kuitpo Forest is one of the top Sunday ‘Longy’ trail runs in South Australia. The rows of pine trees, soft surface underfoot, and peaceful surroundings make this the top choice for runners if they are willing to journey a little further out of Adelaide in search of tranquility on the trails.

It takes just a little over an hour to reach Kuitpo Forest from the city of Adelaide but there’s never been a time I’ve regretted the long journey. The drive out to Kuitpo Forest is a spectacle in itself with tree tunnels, expansive fields, and kangaroo sightings highlights of the trip. While there are many areas to run in Kuitpo, I stick to the Tinjella trail, where I enjoy a 10-kilometer loop with just over 200m of incline. If you are keen for a longer run, you can easily rack up 30km without repeating sections in Kuitpo Forest and the great part is you will probably meet more kangaroos than people.

The trail has quite a few turns so a map can be handy but you can make it up a bit as you go if you prefer. The route I use leads you in and out of the forest, along gravel roads and gives you some nice segments of incline but nothing too steep for too long. I always leave Kuitpo Forest feeling quite refreshed mentally even if my legs are drained. It’s just a special place with a calm atmosphere, perfect for a trail run. I usually stop off at Harvest Mylor Cafe for post-run coffee, which is about 1/3 of the way back to Adelaide.

MYLOR FOREST LOOP TRAIL

Distance: 10.5km
Incline: 283m
Strava Upload: Mylor Forest Loop Trail

This sweet trail run up near Mylor is a bit of a hidden gem. I wasn’t sure to expect when we set off on this route but this track ended up having it all. The 10.5km loop has 283 meters of incline, most of which comes quite early in the trail. The early section of the trail has quite a few twists and turns as the single-track leads you through some pretty thick bush.

After a few kilometers of the winding single-track, the trail opens up a bit and you attack a couple of extra hills before following the mountain bike track along the side of the road back to the Mylor Football oval. There’s a great little cafe next to Mylor Football Oval where the trail begins for your post-run coffee called Harvest Mylor Cafe.

KINGS BEACH TO NEWLAND HEAD (HEYSEN TRAIL)

Distance: 12km (Can do 20km+)
Incline: 324m
Strava Upload: Kings Beach to Newland Head

The Heysen Trail is a 1200km trail that runs through some of the most scenic parts of South Australia. A few people have run the whole thing but most people just jump on a segment of the track for a nice trail run. One of the most scenic parts of the Heysen Trail is in between Kings Head Bech and Newland Head Conservation Park.

The distance between the two is about 15km but you can do an out and back from either side if you just want a shorter distance. We started at Kings Head Beach and ran out 6km before returning the same way to finish back up at Kings Head Beach.

The trail hugs the rugged cliffs along the coast looking out over the ocean below. Keep your eyes out for whales, kangaroos, and the colorful Rosella birds throughout the route. The surface is a mixture of sand, dirt, gravel, rock, and an occasional set of stairs. Despite the incline, it undulates, so you are never on an uphill segment for too long.

It’s truly a stunning segment of rugged track and one of my favorite trail runs in South Australia. If you are committed, you can get out here for sunrise and watch the sun come up over the ocean, a rare sight for locals who are used to watching the sunset over the ocean. Post-run snacks and coffee is at BEACHES Cafe in Port Elliot

Wallowa Track in Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park

Distance: 10.7km
Incline: 189m
Strava Upload: Wallowa Track Run

The Wallowa Track is a pretty awesome trail run near Tanunda. It’s up in the Barossa Valley, which might seem fair but to get to Tanunda it is less than one hour from Adelaide. Once you are in Tanunda, it is just 20-minutes to Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park where you will find the Wallowa Track. It’s very well signed at the entrance and the track is quite clear throughout.

It’s a classic Aussie bush trail run with beautiful native plants and lots of wildlife to look out for while you are running. I saw lots of Kangaroos and birds on the trail with Echidnas also reported being aplenty in the park.

The elevation is not too taxing as the track undulates early then evens out. It’s an out and back route with an optional detour off the track to a lookout over the plains. Watch out for the famous ‘horse head rock’ after about 5-kilometers, which looks a bit like the horse chess piece and is about 7-foot tall.

Post-run snacks and coffee is back in Tanunda at Four Seasons of Nosh Cafe.

MOUNT CRAWFORD FOREST LOOP TRAIL

Distance: 12.5km
Incline: 216m
Strava Upload: Mount Crawford Forest Loop

Mount Crawford Forest is another perfect getaway from the crowds of the city. It’s a peaceful forest run among the pine plantations, much like you can find in the popular Kuitpo Forest. However, on a weekend Kuitpo can see a few visitors but because Mount Crawford Forest is a little bit further it is usually a peaceful forest run.

I did a 12.5km loop through the forest but you could do a route of up to 30km without repeating sections. There are many gravel and dirt roads throughout the forest so you can choose your route. The incline is dependent on the route but usually, the hills in Mount Crawford Forest are short-lived but the trails are undulating so the longer you run the more hills you will collect.

The trail I did begins from a service road and leads you along the boardwalk before the track winds its way through the forest and up to several hills. We spotted a number of kangaroos as we made our way in the early parts of the trail just after sunrise. It was freezing up there and our fingers only defrosted after 6km as it is a decent elevation in the hills.

The coffee and snack stop is at ‘The Good Pantry‘ in Gumeracha, which is on the route back to Adelaide.

BROWN HILL CREEK TRAIL RUN

Distance: 13.8km
Incline: 324m
Strava Upload: Brown Hill Creek Run

Brown Hill is another little gem not too far out of Adelaide. Just moments from the suburbs in the foothills you can find yourself up in the hills away from it all on this run. A quick disclaimer about the route I took so you aren’t disappointed. The first half was all good but I always prefer a loop so I ran up to Sheoak road instead of doubling back down through my Brown Hill route and ended up on some pretty crazy roads with no path, which were dangerous if any cars came through.

However, the running in the Brown Hill Creek area is super nice as you follow the creek, which is surrounded by dense greenery. Huge trees, thick bushes, and a chance of a Koala sighting make this a great little trail run. Halfway through the run, you will reach Pony Ridge Road, which is a picturesque set of switchbacks you can see pictured below.

This trail was a good mix-up from the regulars but not my favorite trail run near Adelaide compared to Chambers or Belair. Post-run coffee was at the ever-reliable ‘Pickle in the Middle‘ in Unley.

STURT GORGE LOOP TRAIL RUN

Distance: 10km
Incline: 219m
Strava Upload: Sturt Gorge Loop

Sturt Gorge is another one of these hidden gems right on the edge of suburbia. That’s why Adelaide is a great trail running area because you don’t need to travel for hours to get to some decent hills. Sturt Gorge is a popular mountain biking area and a number of the trails in this route are actually mountain bike trails.

The route I did was a 6km loop so I double back a few times and added in a bit extra to get a 10km session done but the main part of the loop is solid via my map. The trail undulates along the mountain bike track and then dips you down into the gorge. What goes down must come up and this trail has a short but vicious switchback section, which will separate the pack. I spotted a koala and a pack of kangaroos on this hike even though it’s just minutes away from the suburbs.

Post-run coffee is at the coffee truck ‘D.OSE‘.

CITY TO BEACH – RIVER TORRENS LINEAR PARK TRAIL

Distance: 12km
Incline: 50m
Strava Upload: Brewery to Henley Route

The River Torrens Linear Trail is one of the most reliable tracks for uninterrupted running in Adelaide. It’s popular among recreational cyclists and walking groups for its relaxed vibe and stunning scenery. The best part about the River Torrens Linear Trail is that it runs right through Adelaide, which means no matter what suburb you are in it’s not too far away to find your way onto the trail.

While the trail is paved the whole way, you will find lots of dirt or bush trail sections, if you prefer for a bit more of an adventure. While there are many great sections of the River Torrens Linear Trail, I like to start at the brewery, where you can easily find parking, and run all the way down to Henley. This way you finish the run with 2-kilometers along the coast and then get to enjoy a coffee at Henley Beach after. You will need a pick-up driver or to plant a second car if you only plan to run one way as I did on the Strava upload, which you can click on above. Otherwise, you can start further towards the beach or make it a long run and go out and back for a half-marathon.

It’s truly incredible how stunning this trail is, considering it is often only meters away from busy main roads. Don’t be surprised if you spot a koala or native birds as the sunlight creeps in through the trees creating an urban oasis perfect for an easily accessible city trail run in Adelaide.

Post-run coffee is at Acacia Coffee although many loyal Malobo fans will be disappointed at that choice. Either will give you a good caffeine fix but the almond croissant at Acacia and the friendly staff wins it the nod.

WATERFALL GULLY TO MOUNT LOFTY SUMMIT (TOP OF ADELAIDE)

Distance: 9km
Incline: 500m
Strava Upload: Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty

The Waterfall Gully trail is without a doubt the most popular trail in Adelaide. On a weekend morning, you can guarantee the parking lot is full and you may have to park 2-kilometers down the road. The trails will be brimming with hikers and joggers of all abilities, out enjoying a challenge.

The reason for its popularity is the summit. From the Waterfall Gully parking lot you will follow the trail up to Mount Lofty summit, which is the highest point in Adelaide at 727m. At the summit is a cafe and a large fire tower that looks out over the Southern Lofty Ranges. It is one of the best views in Adelaide and you can actually drive to the summit if you aren’t up for the fitness challenge. The summit has panoramic views of the city and the Adelaide Plains to the west, and of the Picadilly Valley to the east.

The trail itself is a mixture of gravel and paved pathways and is quite well signed due to its popularity. Expect to share the busy trail with others and make sure you are patient with large groups of walkers who will block the way at times. The incline comes hot and heavy in the last 2-kilometers of the ascent with a grueling section of steep climbing, which is where the wheels fall off for many who are trying to run the whole way up to the summit. The Strava upload above is from a hike I did (parked a bit far away) but I have run it multiple times.

Keep an eye out for a couple of gurus who run up this track barefoot or holding bricks. This trail brings out the weird, freakishly fit, and the average Adelaidian up for a weekend session. Remember, if you don’t get an Instagram snap at the top, did you even do Lofty?

Coffee after the session is definitely at BASECAMP back at the start of Waterfall Gully Road although Utopia Cafe is right there at the waterfall near the parking lot if you fancy that.

PARK 6 URBAN TRAIL

Distance: 2km
Incline: 20m
Strava Upload: Park 6 Urban Trail

Often the main motivation for a trail run is to enjoy some soft ground underfoot and be surrounded by greenery and nature. However, you don’t always have time to drive up into the hills or foothills to access a true Aussie bush trail run. Park 6 is my favorite go-to loop for a 100% soft-dirt trail run right in the center of the city.

The loop is exactly 2-kilometers and there is ample parking so you can roll up and do as many laps as you need for your training session right in the heart of the city. Inside the track are lots of paddocks where horses are kept and you have a view of the hills from the top of the loop so it’s actually pretty nice for golden hour. There is a little bit of incline but it’s very moderate so this is a great trail run for an ‘easy’ session. Post-run coffee options are plentiful on the nearby O’Connell Street but my personal favorite is Black Eye Coffee for a caffeine hit and a fresh juice.

MACKINNON PARADE UNI LOOP

Distance: 2.2km
Incline: 10m
Strava Upload: The Loop

Every city has one. It’s the mecca, the hotspot, the hub, the go-to, the classic. Call it what you want, you can always find the supreme athletes of Adelaide down at the Uni Loop on any given day. While its not the best ‘trail run’ on this list the surface is gravel along the entire 2.2km loop. In the heart of the city, this is a popular route due to it’s verified distance and sign-posts every 200m. These factors make it easy for intervals, time trials, and those looking to do multiple loops of a flat, uninterrupted track.

Although it is in the middle of the city (literally 500m from Rundle Mall), the surroundings are quite natural as the track borders the River Torrens and parklands. You might even hear the monkey howls in the evening from across the river at the zoo.

This is a great supplement to the ‘better’ trail runs in Adelaide and it’s just a staple of the Adelaide runner’s diverse options. Watch out for Team Tempo and elite runners as they burst past you at a cracking pace giving you the reality check you didn’t ask for!

Post-run coffee and acai bowls at Delicia on Melbourne Street or the Brady Brunch Cafe.

INDEPENDENCE TRAIL (KANGAROO ISLAND)

Distance: 7km ( Can add another 7km)
Incline: 60m
Strava Upload: Independence Trail

Kangaroo Island is a decent drive and a ferry away from Adelaide but there’s some great trail running out on the island so I thought I’d add a few of them in here. After all, you can get out there in just a few hours so it’s not as far as we sometimes think.

The Independence Trail is a historic trail along the coast of the American River inlet near the town of Dudley on the eastern side of Kangaroo Island. There are placards, flags, and history lessons along the way explaining the story of ‘The Schooner’, which was the first ship built in Australia. However, if you are running the trail, there’s a fair chance you will skip the history lesson and just enjoy the scenery.

The trail is dirt for most of the route with blue wooden markers guiding you along the route. It’s a 3.5km out and back trail but we tacked on an extra 6-kilometers at the end of the trail on a gravel road to grab a bit of a longer run. The trail leads you along the swamp-like coastline of the American River, all the while winding through low-hanging trees and dense vegetation with lots of stimuli to keep you buzzing throughout the run.

Snacks after the run were at the American River General Store. It’s not the biggest town so I’m not sure if there is a cute coffee shop out there but we just grabbed post-run fuel at the general store, which had a good range of fruit, nuts, drinks, and all the essentials.

RAVINE DES CASOARS – FLINDERS CHASE NATIONAL PARK (KANGAROO ISLAND)

Distance: 7.5km Loop
Incline: 150m
Strava Upload: Ravine Des Casoars

Ravine Des Casoars is a bit of a strange name but it actually means Ravine of the Cassowaries, which is a large flightless bird from the tropics of Papua New Guinea. The gorge and an associated drainage basin are located on the west coast of Kangaroo Island about 95 kilometers west of the main town of Kingscote. There were never any Cassawories here but the first English settlers mistook the native Emu for a Cassowary and gave the ravine a factually incorrect name. There are signs of Indigenous presence in the ravine as far back as 7,500 years and I’m sure they never saw a Cassowary once.

To get to the trailhead, you will drive towards Borda Lighthouse in Flinders Chase National Park and then take a left at the Ravine Way road. Head down the road 6-kilometers until you reach the parking lot, which is well signed.

The run is an out and back, which leads you down into the ravine to the beach and caves, and then on the return, you have to climb back up the hill to the parking lot. It’s a truly stunning run, which really has it all. I visited after the tragic bush fires of 2020 but it was still incredible. The run begins by winding through the forest down into the gorge and then follows the river all the way to the beach, which seems like an oasis that must be part of a dream. When you reach the beach, be sure to explore the caves on the right side of the gorge before heading back up the hill on the return leg of the trail run.

Post-run coffee and snacks are BYO cause this run is remote!

VIVONNE BAY TRAIL RUN & RED ROAD ADD-ON (KANGAROO ISLAND)

Distance: 10 km
Incline: 77m
Strava Upload: Vivonne Bay Running

Vivonne Bayu is one of many stunning beaches on Kangaroo Island. With crystal clear blue waters beneath the iconic jetty, it provides a stark contrast to the adjacent fiery red of the dirt track that leads to the beach.

There are lots of ways to enjoy a trail run in this area but what we did was park the car out at the bitumen/paved road and run into the beach along the track. We tlikened the surroundings to a training camp with Eliud Kipchoge in Kenya. It’s 3-kilometers into the beach and then you can hook a right at the coast and run along the rocky trail, which heads straight down the coastline. It’s a bit rough and tough to keep any pace but a fun adventure nonetheless. Regardless of which surface you choose, it’s a beautiful area and if you visit in the summer, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in some seriously blue water!

Post-run feed and coffee are at the Vivonne Bay General Store. Honorable mention to the veggie burger and incredibly large ‘small’ chips.

SCOTT CREEK CONSERVATION PARK TRAIL RUN

Distance: 11.5 km
Incline: 350m
Strava Upload: Scott Creek Conservation Park Trail Run

Scott Creek Conservation Park is a great trail run if you are looking for some incline but also want some ‘runnable’ roads. Basically, throughout most of this route, you have some solid gravel paths without too many single-tracks, rocky descents, and overrun trails.

On a sunny day, this is is just beautiful. The trail will lead you around the perimeter of Scott Creek Conservation Park but also darts through the thick of it once or twice. The highlights are a couple of roads that seem to be on a ridge or at least they seem elevated above the shrubbery below. These parts were just a dream to run and made the kilometers tick past very quickly!

The incline comes early with most of the hills climbed in the first half of the run before you enjoy the descent in the second part of this trail run.

Coffee and snacks are back in Adelaide as this one is quite remote but you could stop at the Perfect Note Cafe in Blackwood, which is on the way back to the city. The classic Clarendon Bakery isn’t too far off either.

ONKAPARINGA GORGE TRAIL RUN

Distance: 13.5 km
Incline: 300-500m
Strava Upload: Onkaparinga Gorge Trail Run

The Onkaparinga Gorge is a spectacular ravine an hour south of Adelaide. It’s a beautiful spot to be when the first light begins to flow into the gorge so I highly recommend this trail run for a sunrise mission.

The trail begins right near the Long Shot Cafe and then heads straight out of the suburbs and across a small footbridge into the wilderness. It will be the first and last time you cross the river although you will follow it along the gorge throughout the trail.

This is a spectacular route but I found it difficult to run at a good rhythm with lots of rocks, narrow sections, and a fair amount of scrambling, ducking, and weaving. It was fun stuff but hard to run at a consistent pace.

After following the gorge for 5-kilometers you will climb your way up out of the gorge on the steepest section of the trail to arrive at the viewpoint with a very scenic beach. It’s a good spot to catch your breath before getting stuck into the second half of the run. It’s worth noting that I got a bit lost so don’t follow my map exactly although the first half of my run did follow the Alltrails route which is accurate.

Coffee and a bite to eat after the run are right where you started at Long Shot Cafe.

MOUNT GEORGE TRAIL RUN

Distance: 7.5 km
Incline: 210m
AllTrails Map: Mount George Trail Run

Mount George Conservation Park is a bit of an unsung hero. You won’t hear much about this beautiful little area but it sure delivers. With an abundance of strikingly tall gum trees towering over the trail, plenty of Koala sightings, and a spectacular rocky viewpoint, this trail really has it all.

The trail has two loops on either side of the parking lot that are connected as part of this route. You will be on a road for about 1-kilometer but for the rest of the route, you can expect to be fully immersed in the wild Aussie bush with a backdrop of Kookaburras laughing away as you wind through the trees along the trail.

The viewpoint up on Mount George Ridge is a great spot for a quick pit-stop to grab a photo or take in the view and it would be an epic location for golden hour. I did the whole route but when I logged my Strava I thought the gates were locked so didn’t do the second part of the loop and ran down the entry road instead. I then hiked it after to enjoy the full double loop so I shared an accurate map for your reference in the link above.

Coffee and snacks after the run are at Piccadilly Kitchen just a short drive away.

As a local, you can be sure I will keep adding to this list as I continue to explore and enjoy more trail runs around Adelaide and South Australia. If you have any suggestions of great trail runs near Adelaide that you think I should have a crack at and then add to the list just leave a comment below. Stay safe on the trails and happy adventuring guys!

I kicked off the week by finishing up in Tanunda as I wrote about in the last ‘Weekly’. After riding up to Tanunda on my bike (1300m of incline), I did a trail run with a few hills up in the Barossa and the rode back ‘down’ to Adelaide (750m of incline). I then attacked my biggest ever ride of 105km from Adelaide to Port Elliot via Hahndorf (1400m of incline). I did my ‘recovery run’ with 7kms at Kuitpo Forest with Phi’s husky Mishka and then the week finished with a trail run through Belair with 300m of incline on a cold, wet and stormy morning with the boys.

All up it was 2,153m of incline on the bike and 670m of incline on the trail runs. My body feels reliable, which is a welcome change but not one I take for granted nor expect to remain. Each week on the trails and the hills is a blessing and a temporary opportunity. I think everyone has an end date for some activities. Some expect it to be in 40 years while other more injury prone or limited athletes aren’t sure when it’s their last time out on the trails feeling able.

It can often be a bit of a negative mindset to be ‘waiting’ to get injured next but it is also realistic for someone like me. However, it drives you to do injury management, take the steps to prevent it from happening. The most important aspect for me is that I just cherish the fun days out on the trails more than most. I know what it’s worth, what it feels like to be unable, to not know if it will be there in your future. You just smile when you have it and know that it isn’t permanent. It’s just an opportunity you have right now so make the most of it.

This week I received my travel exemption from the government so I can begin to plan my journey over to Europe in the coming weeks, which is exciting but nothing is set in stone during 2020 so I’ll wait till everything is confirmed before getting too stoked on a new adventure. For now, it is a continued opportunity to hang out with friends and family while exploring SA trails and biking routes.

My plan was always to leave Adelaide with my blog in great order, in better physical shape than when I arrived, and to have just embraced the lockdown no matter what was possible or not. I didn’t want to be that person who complained about what they couldn’t do, where they couldn’t go or how it is ‘so unfair’. It’s not unfair, I’m incredibly privileged, SA is a beautiful state and I’m surrounded with positive people who have made my time here in Adelaide an exceptional lockdown.

These ‘Weekly’ reviews may not be quite as full of adventures as they used to when travel was in full swing but it’s a nice chance for me to jot down my thoughts, what I’ve been up to, and have a digital record of that for years to come. If you made it this far, enjoy the photos below from my trail runs and adventures throughout the week. I also shot photos at the SA State Champs for running so those are in here too.

Rogasch Cottage, a luxury Barossa Valley Airbnb was home for two nights over the weekend. I was fortunate enough to be invited up by the owner Scott Rogasch and it turned out to be a great family getaway to the premier wine region of South Australia.

I turned the weekend getaway into a bit of an adventure by riding my bike up to Tanunda and then back down to Adelaide a couple of days later when we checked out. It was 85km up to Tanunda with 1200m+ of an incline up through the Adelaide Hills.

There’s something about being out of the city that is quite calming. Things go slower, people are more at ease and a smile from a stranger is less difficult to come by. It’s a good place to be.

Rogasch Cottage is modern meets traditional. The cottage is on the grounds of the ‘Forage Supply’ vineyard and has kept its heritage while ensuring the modern luxuries are there to make the stay a memorable one. The highlights of the property are the underground wine cellar, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and the incredible hot tub, which overlooks the vineyards. It’s got to be one of the best hot tub views in South Australia.

Aside from enjoying the coziness of Rogasch Cottage, we also explored several nearby wineries and distilleries. However, it was our exploration in Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park that was the highlight for me. I went for a trail run throughout the Wallowa Track in the conservation park while my family hiked the route. Plenty of Kangaroos, Kookaburras, and Australian bush scenes made it a beautiful spot to explore.

Mengler Hill Lookout was our pick for sunset, which was almost as beautiful as the sunrise, with a hazy glow filling the vast plains of the Barossa Valley.

I took out my drone, 100-400mm lens, and shot the golden hour at the cottage, which turned out to be an epic, foggy morning with incredible light rays so it was lucky timing with when we decided to visit Tanunda. Below are my favorite shots from the weekend at Rogasch Cottage, Wallowa trail run and a short highlight video reel.

Normally, this is a great little block of productivity but this pandemic has made the block a little longer than desirable and this has meant it’s been a while since an adventure. It’s not something you forget how to do but from the comforts of a warm house with your family, a camping trip or an overnight adventure can often be pushed aside till next week. It’s almost as if it’s hard to get back into the groove once you’re out of it. However, once you get a bit of adrenaline in your blood from an adventure or two you remember why you were addicted to it in the first place.

That leads me to this week. Josh and I spontaneously decided to head down to Victor Harbor way to camp overnight, do a trail run in the morning and then work from a cafe in Port Elliot the next day. Camping, trail-running, and cafe work sessions where the combo we were after and the trip delivered. Once we got out of Adelaide, the adventure vibes were on and I was glad to be back out and about.

We headed up to Rapid Bay campsite but found out it was closed due to the pandemic so continued on up to Waitpinga and found the campsite there was open. As we rolled into Waitpinga, we were a bit late due to the Rapid Bay closure but made it just in time to watch Waitpinga Beach light up in a pink haze as the surfers enjoyed the last few waves before darkness. Pink soon turned to red and we had stumbled into one of the best sunsets in a while.

After sunset, we set up camp in Waitpinga Campground inside Newland Head Conservation Park. I had some new gear to test out like an ultra-light tent, Jet Boil camping stove, ultra-light sleeping mat, and new ultra-light sleeping bag. All of the gear passed the test and I’m keen to add a few more camping trips to the itinerary before this lockdown period in Adelaide ends.

The next morning we woke just before sunrise to find kangaroos nibbling at the grass outside of our tents. We quickly packed up our minimal campsite and drove down to Kings Beach to begin our trail run. Heading from Kings Beach down the Heysen Trail back towards Newlands Head Conservation Park turned out to be a great idea. The undulating trail provided some testing incline but nothing too much to handle.

The trail itself was a cliff-side track with great views over the ocean on many occasions while also darting back into the Aussie bush every now and again. We came across Kangaroos, flocks of Rosellas, and parakeets as we wound our way along this stunning part of the Heysen Trail. Only bumping into one other trail runner along the way, we enjoyed the track to ourselves.

After our morning trail run, we headed to a couple of coffee shops to get some work done on our respective blogs and enjoyed the laidback vibes that come with ease when you depart the sometimes frenetic nature of the inner city cafes of Adelaide.

It was a great little trip that left me longing for another adventure, which is exactly what I’d hoped for as I sit in idle, during this lockdown that seems to continually extend itself without apology.

I stuck to my iPhone this week for photos but Josh brought the camera down so, for a change, we have some quality snaps this time for The Weekly. Here are some of my favorite photos from our sunset session and trail run down at Waitpinga and Newlands Head Conservation Park.

I hope you all had a great week and maybe even enjoyed a little adventure of your own.

Of course, it’s natural to want to experience something completely unique but given that many of us are in lockdown, behind closed borders or being encouraged not to ‘travel’, it seems a perfect time to explore some of our nearby attractions. 

Since I’ve been back in Adelaide for the past three months, I’ve decided to try and run a different trail every Sunday. I’ve repeated a couple but I’ve managed to do more than 10 different trails now and have a list of new routes if this lockdown continues. 

While not a single one of them has been better than most of the hikes or trails in Switzerland, that’s not the point. You have to make the most of what you have and luckily for me, Adelaide and South Australia are pretty damn good. 

I’ve decided I’ll put together a blog post of all the trails I’ve been running so far. There’s already a trail running website in South Australia that does a pretty good job but it’s always nice to share the personal photos and experience for those looking for more than just the details and a map. I’ll get onto that before I leave Adelaide.

As the tradition goes in lockdown, I’m not shooting many photos but do put my phone photos in these Weekly editions as a glimpse into my week and as a memory for me. So, here’s this week’s photos. Hope you all had a great week.

Looking back on the first half of the year for me personally, it hasn’t been as action-packed as other years but keeping everything in perspective, it was still a pretty good ride.

• I spent the first month in the summer of Adelaide preparing for the year.
• I then headed to Cebu for a month, rented my apartment for the year, and got my cycling and running for the year started. There were a few adventures around Cebu to waterfalls and beaches throughout the month.
• I headed off to Japan in March for three weeks of exploring in the southern island of Kyushu. Volcanoes, hikes, waterfalls, and lots of driving in what would be my last campaign for a while.
• After Japan, I had a week in Indonesia with Project Hiu, a shark conservation trip in Lombok.
• After Lombok, I was scheduled to fly back to Cebu to my apartment but in the uncertain times of a global pandemic, I headed back to Adelaide, Australia. It was a safe move in an uncertain time.
• For the last three months, I’ve been at my parent’s house in Adelaide bunkered down. I’ve published 60+ blog posts and caught up on lots of blog work, admin work and feel like I’m on top of it all after four hectic years. I’ve also had a chance to build a solid fitness base with three months of cycling and running.

A mellow philippines trip, Japan exploration and quick trip in Indonesia isn’t a bad run for half a year but compared to previous years, it is slow going. I’ve tried to use this slower period to be completely on top of my blog work and business set up and feel pretty good about my productivity levels in these strange times.

That’s pretty much a wrap on the first six months of the year. This week itself was pretty solid with 200km of riding, 30km of trail running, and a couple of blog posts in between all that. I’ve continued my break from my camera but took a few phone snaps from moments during the week, which you’ll find below.